Aoki Lee Simmons is defending her decision to pursue a modeling career while studying at Harvard after coming across a message from one fan who said she’s too “articulate” to be a model. In the comment section on one of her TikTok videos, the user wrote, “You’re so articulate and obviously educated .. how come u chose modeling?”
Aoki hopped back onto the video-sharing social app, shutting down the idea that people who work as models aren’t smart or educated, saying, “Well, one, models aren’t uneducated and not articulate, but two, I think what you’re really getting at is, ‘Why am I going into a field that doesn’t necessarily require a degree or require a whole lot of book smarts when I have a lot of education?’”
Aoki Lee Simmons! BABYYYY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zYlGEO6FsJ
— 𝕮𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖙 𝕶𝖎𝖒 💥 (@TheCourtKim) December 5, 2019
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The 19-year-old, who is the daughter of Kimora Lee Simmons and Russell Simmons, went on to say that modeling is something she’s passionate about and that while she enjoys studying classics at the prestigious Ivy League school, “You don’t have to do what you’re immediately good at.” She continued, “You can be good at something and not want to do it forever, and you can be bad at something and still pursue it.”
“I really want us to move towards a future where young women aren’t being asked this question. Like, not being asked, ‘Why did you follow your more creative passion even though you’re smart?'” Aoki gushed in her video as she encouraged her followers to follow their dreams and do the things they love.
Aoki further added, ”I would like to change the idea that you can’t be smart and pretty, or you can’t be smart and enjoy your looks or enjoy a creative, beauty- [and] fashion-based career,” she continued. “You can be two kinds of people in one person.”
“Do whatever you want,” she said, wrapping up her video. “Get a degree; don’t use it. Get a degree; use it later … Get a degree later. Don’t get one — do whatever you want to do! And nothing is a waste of your talent.”
can we talk about how beautiful ming lee and aoki lee simmons have grown up to be???!! pic.twitter.com/9p0SiC63zp
— THAT GIRL (@TANIRICHES) January 15, 2019
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Aoki was accepted at Harvard University at just 16, much to the delight of her famous parents, who gushed about their daughter’s incredible milestone back in early 2019 when the family had learned the exciting news.
“Yaaaayyyyy @aokileesimmons!! She’s on her way to #Harvard!! We are so proud of YOU!! Such hard work and only 16!” Kimora captioned her Instagram post. “You did it! It took years of super dedication and lots of tears! But HERE YOU ARE!!! GO GIRL!!!”